Page 44 of Memories By the Shore
“I did nothing,” I reply.
“Sometimes all people need is someone to just sit and listen to them.” She wraps her arms around my shoulders, her fingers moving to the nape of my neck. “Security based in a silent trust.”
The tightening in my chest deepens. “You get me more than anyone else ever has.”
God, I’d love more than anything to make love to her.It’s fucking brutal to feel this intense connection without being able to strengthen it. But I need Avery to come to me when she’s ready. She’s a thinker—always in her own head—and won’t do things unless she wants to. I love that about her. Calculated like the sea and, at times, chaotic but always knows which way to go.
That’s why I asked her multiple times about attending tonight’s party. I never want her to feel like she’s not in control.Because when it comes to us, I’m secure in what we have.
“And you get me,” she mumbles, resting her head against my chest.
I squeeze her tight. “Do you want me to take you home?”
She angles her head up, glancing around the beach, then turns her half-open eyes to mine. “I wish for infinity nights like these. Every night spent on the beach under the stars.”
Fuck, I’m obsessed with her.“Infinity nights it is.”
Avery’s focus falls to my lips, then darts back up. “We should probably head back.”
“You got it, Arizona.”
She rotates in my arms and faces the black sea before us. The endless Pacific Ocean that goes on for thousands of miles.
“Thank you.”
My front is flush with her back, and I know she can feel me grow bigger between us.Do I pull away? Or do I let her see how bad I want to be with her?
“Come with me.”
“Of course.” I thread my fingers through her silky hair. “I wouldn’t let you walk alone.”
“Should we say goodbye to the guys?”
“Nah, I’ll see them tomorrow.” I chuckle, scoffing at my friends. “Hell, I see them all the damn time.”
She laughs. “That’s true. Let’s go.”
With my arm hooked tightly around her shoulders, I keep her close while we walk back to our side of town along the shore.
In what feels like a blink of an eye, we’re already back at Helen’s beach house. I’m not ready to say goodbye for the night, but she’s tired, so I hold in my disappointmentabout our night ending earlier than I would like.
“Thanks for hanging out with my friends tonight,” I say, leaning against the outside of the house.
With her hands linked behind her back, Avery steps into me. “Wait, you’re coming in, right?” she confirms coyly.Hell fucking yes, I want to come in!
“I would love to come in.” I smile and press a kiss on the tip of her nose. I watch as she turns around to unlock the door.
“Good, I hoped you knew I was serious.” She flashes a smile while blushing.
Following her up the steps, I take each one casually, trying not to let on how stoked I am to stay with her.
Avery leads me through the quiet, unlit house and down the hall to her bedroom. Taking care not to make a noise that would disturb Helen, we slip into her room. Avery quietly locks the door behind us.
I can barely make out the outline of her as she crosses over her bed to turn on a small lamp on her nightstand. She removes her shirt and switches it for a white tank top. Then drops her pants, replacing them with Northern Arizona University sweats.The college she’s going to.
A pit in my stomach reminds me our time is limited.
“I don’t think Helen heard us.” Avery climbs onto her bed.
